Why Work At Kadimah?

Working at Camp Kadimah is a rewarding experience. Our staff team is a mature, caring group of young adults who are dedicated and committed to providing a positive camp experience for all campers. We believe that staff return for many years because they are treated with respect and given the opportunity to take ownership of their summers by planning programs, making decisions, giving input, and helping to implement positive growth in campers and the camp itself. The Kadimah staff team is largely composed of past campers who feel a genuine passion for Camp Kadimah and wish to pay back the experience they had as campers to the future generation. Each year, over 85% of the bunk counsellors we hire are former Kadimah campers themselves. They fully understand the influence their own counsellors had on them and now, as cabin and camp leaders, they are proud to carry on that tradition with the campers to whom they’ve been entrusted. Similarly, we are excited by the 15% of new to Kadimah staff members who bring unique ideas and a fresh perspective to camp that is constantly growing and improving. If you enjoy working with people and want to gain experience that will be beneficial to your career, Camp Kadimah is the ideal place to work.

Click here for the 2024 Staff Application

Sarah Atkins, B.A., B.Ed., M.A.

Director

Entering her ninth summer at Camp Kadimah, Sarah has worked in the field of education and experiential education since 2002. Sarah brings to us a wealth of knowledge and experience having worked in the field of Jewish communal service and informal education. Previously, Sarah was the Director of Informal Education and the Director of the March of the Living at the Bronfman Israel Experience Centre in Montreal. Sarah has worked as an educator for the iCenter for Israel Education and before that as a high school teacher. Sarah earned a Masters of Arts in Jewish Professional Studies from Spertus Institute of Jewish Learning and Leadership in Chicago, as well as an Honours B.A. from McMaster University and B.Ed. from Nipissing University. Sarah also holds a professional certificate in Israel Education from the iCenter for Israel Education and serves as a faculty mentor in the iFellows program. Sarah is passionate about Jewish camping and using her skills to make camp fun and memorable while developing young leaders who feel a profound sense of belonging and community. Sarah’s creativity and leadership skills enable her to thrive at nurturing campers’ connections with Jewish values, Israel and the fostering of lifelong friendships. Sarah has three children who love spending their summers in Barss Corner at Camp Kadimah.

Sharon Friedberg, M.D.

Head of Camper Care

Sharon Friedberg was born in Jerusalem and spent part of her youth in the United States and England. She is an IDF veteran and has strong ties to Israel. She graduated from Ben-Gurion University medical school and did a residency in Family Medicine in Haifa. Sharon relocated to Canada in 2006 where she lives with her husband and three children. As Head of Camper Care, Sharon is dedicated to ensuring that everyone has a wonderful, fun-filled summer and brings forth a wealth of experience from the health care sector. As a mother of both Kadimah campers and staff alumni, Sharon knows firsthand the positive impact and lasting effects of summer camp on children and is excited to be a part of the CK leadership. Sharon looks forward to continuing to make camp a special and memorable place for all those in the Kadimah community.

Peter Svilik

Associate Director

Peter was born in Russia and moved to Israel at the age of 3. He lived there until the age of 13, when he and his family moved to Halifax. In Halifax, Peter has been involved in a variety of Jewish organizations and initiatives, including as the Co-President of Hillel Atlantic. Peter has been returning to Camp Kadimah since 2011, when he first attended as a camper in Machar. Since then, he has worked at camp as a bunk staff in Giborim, a Section Head of the Goshrim and Kochot sections, as Head Counselor, and as the Assistant Director. Peter holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Dalhousie University, and a Master’s degree in Sustainable Energy Engineering from Carleton University, and he is always excited to interweave science and sustainability into camp programming both for campers and staff. Currently, Peter is undertaking studies towards a Graduate Certificate in Israel Education at the George Washington University. He speaks English, Hebrew and Russian, and he is very excited to continue to serve Kadimah’s diverse and ever growing community!

Jason Bergman

Assistant Director

We are excited to welcome Jason to the CK year-round leadership team! Jason first came to Kadimah in 2014 and immediately fell in love with the camp, its warm community, and the Maritimes. Jason has worked on our staff team since 2018, serving as a lifeguard, Kochot general staff, and most recently, spending the past two summers as our Program Director. Jason played an integral role during our pandemic closures, working on Kadimah on Demand, Kadimah on Exchange, and our virtual camp experience. Outside of Kadimah, Jason spends his time in Hamilton, Ontario, studying in his final year of the Integrated Business and Humanities undergraduate program at McMaster University. Jason is passionate about leadership, community engagement, and is a die-hard Toronto Blue Jays and Raptors fan!